BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The 13-time defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State Mavericks were picked to win the NSIC in the preseason men's indoor track & field coaches' poll. The Mavericks received all 10 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for own team) and tallied 100 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana, which was second with 90 points and the other first place vote. MSU Moorhead was third with 73 points while Northern State was fourth with 69 points. 
 
Augustana's Ryan Hartman (track) and the University of Sioux Falls Tyler Hiatt (field) were selected as the preseason athletes of the year. 
 
MSU's Jabez Reeves (Sprints, Sr. Woodbridge, Virginia) and Braxton Stewart (Multi, Jr., Waukon, Iowa) were selected as 2024-25 Athletes to Watch. Reeves most recently competed in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games for Liberia. Stewart placed 13^th in heptathlon at last season's NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships.
 
"Jabez looks to continue his success from last season both on the conference and national level," said head coach Mike Turgeon. "He will look to defend his 60m/200m NSIC titles as well as the 200m National Title."
 
"After a breakout season in the combined events, Braxton will look to build off his 2024 campaign that earned him a 13th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the heptathlon," Turgeon said.
 
The 2024-25 NSIC Indoor Track & Field season gets underway this weekend with the regular season culminating on Friday-Saturday, February 28 and March 1 at the NSIC Championship held at Myers Field House in Mankato, Minnesota; hosted by Minnesota State University, Mankato.  The entire NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championship will air live on the NSIC Network; a day pass can be purchased for $10, while full access to both days of competition is available for $15.00. 

Minnesota State hosts the Chuck Petersen Open at Myers Field House on Saturday.